So much for the Calgary Stampeders always taking it easy on the first day of CFL free agency.

Stampeders president/GM John Hufnagel had an incredibly busy day Tuesday, re-signing two players from last year’s squad, adding three new signings to the 2018 team and allowing two defensive backs to leave Calgary.

After an off-season that’s already seen several key veterans either retire (OL Dan Federkeil, HB Rob Cote), be traded (DE Charleston Hughes) or get released (receiver Marquay McDaniel), Hufnagel’s wheeling and dealing further cemented the notion that the Stampeders squad that takes the field in 2018 will look very different from the one that lost in the Grey Cup last season.

Here’s a quick timeline of how the first day of free agency went for the Stampeders.

8:48 a.m. – Roy Finch re-signs

A little more than an hour before free-agency began, the Stampeders locked down their star kick returner.

Finch is the reigning CFL Most Outstanding Special Teams Player and looks likely to take on a bigger role on the offensive side of the ball as a running back or even a slot receiver.

The University of Oklahoma standout had gotten looks with NFL teams this off-season, but after losing two Grey Cup games in two seasons with the Stampeders said it felt like there was unfinished business for him in Calgary.

“(Winning the Grey Cup) is very attainable,” Finch said. “Just because of the experience coming back. We have a lot of young guys coming back who have played in back-to-back Grey Cups. We didn’t win it, but just having that experience in a big moment. We know the moment isn’t too big for us and a lot of us are getting older and more mature and more polished in our craft.”

Calgary Stampeders Deron Mayo during warm-up before facing the Toronto Argonauts in CFL football in Calgary on Saturday, August 26, 2017. Al Charest/Postmedia

12:03 p.m. – Deron Mayo re-signs

After missing the 2017 season due to a knee injury suffered late in 2016, there was some question as to whether Mayo would be back with the Stamps.

Two hours after free-agency opened, that question was answered when the 29-year-old was re-signed.

No, he hasn’t played in more than a year, but Mayo has been with the Stampeders for six seasons and was a team captain who was leading the team in tackles before he got hurt in 2016.

He had another surgery to repair his injured knee this off-season and will enter the 2018 season knowing he needs to compete with Jameer Thurman – who was exceptional as a rookie – and possibly Maleki Harris for a starting linebacker role next to Alex Singleton.

He’s cool with that.

“Whether I was injured or not, whether I started the season before or not, I had the same mindset and that’s to compete,” Mayo said. “Not just with my teammates, but with the rest of the league.”

Stamps’Adam Berger moves in to cover a punt in front of RedBlacks’ Brandon McDonald during CFL action between the Calgary Stampeders and the Ottawa RedBlacks at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, Alta. on Saturday August 15, 2015. Berger recovered the ball deep in Ottawa territory, leading to a TD. Jim Wells/Calgary Sun/Postmedia Network

2:04 p.m. – Adam Berger joins Stamps

This wasn’t a re-signing, but it sort of felt like one.

Berger was drafted by the Stampeders in 2012 and spent four seasons in Calgary before joining the Ottawa RedBlacks last year.

He’s a defensive back and special-teamer who posted five defensive tackles and four special teams tackles with the RedBlacks last year, and is returning to the team looking to compete and play on a DB unit that was the stingiest in the league last season.

“My understanding is they would like to start a Canadian safety,” Berger said. “Tunde (Adeleke) played very well last year, so I kind of think it’s his role to lose at this point, but I’m going to come into camp ready to compete and to help him grow as a player and help the team any way I can.

Chad Owens of the Toronto Argos is taken down by Emanuel Davis of the Hamilton Tigercats during CFL action at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ont. on October 4, 2013. Dave Abel/Toronto Sun/QMI Agency ORG XMIT:

2:57 p.m. – Emanuel Davis joins Stamps

The Stampeders made a splash with this one, bringing in a 28-year-old defensive back who was named to the East Division all-star team in 2015 and ’16.

The East Carolina product spent the past four seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and compiled 191 defensive tackles, 24 special-teams tackles, 10 interceptions, six forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, 10 touchdowns, 29 knockdowns and one sack in 61 career regular season games.

The guy can flat-out play, and with Tommie Campbell not signing with the Stamps – more on that in a second – Davis’ versatility as a cornerback and halfback could be big for the Stamps.

“Since I became a CFL player, Calgary’s always been a winning team,” Davis said. “It was just something I felt like I wanted to be a part of.”

Stamps Tommie Campbell (L) tackles Eskimos Adarius Bowman during the CFL Western Final in Calgary between the Calgary Stampeders and the Edmonton Eskimos on Sunday, November 19, 2017. Jim Wells/Postmedia

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